Stencil-feeding mechanism



May 8,1928. 1,669,015

: R. OLIVER STENCIL FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed June 9, 1927 INVENTORPatented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROBERT OLIVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STENCIL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 9, 1927. Serial/No. 197,674.

This invention relates to stencil feeding mechanism, and has for anobject to provide mechanism of this character adapted for use inaddri-ssing machines, and the like, whereby accurate removal of a singlestencil at a time from a source of supply, and proper .i'eeding of thesame, is assured.

Another object consists in providing mechanism of this character that isarranged to engage within the stencil lfranie and has means for prstencil. paper.

Another object consists in providing mechanism oi: this character thatis adapted to successively and accurately engage stencils for feedingthe same whether they be straight or warped. j

A further object consists in providing certain improvements in the form,construction and arrangement of the several parts whereby the abovenamedhnd other objects may efileetively be attained.

A practical embodiment oi: the invention is represented intheaccompanying drawings, in which r Fig. 1 represents a detail verticalsection, partly in elevation and partly broken away;

Fig, 2 re resents a plan view ofthe parts shown in Fig. l; and f c Fig.3 represents a section taken in the plane 01? theline III-JII' of Fig. 1looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

The invention is represented as applied to s addressing machine ofapproved form, parts of which are shown.

A vertical frame member is denoted by 1, horizontal frame members by 2,2, the stencil tracks by 3, 3, which are secured to the memments arealso conventional as isthe )art which connects the lever .8 with means.for actuating the same, not shown.

The carriage 12 has a pair of forwardly and downwardly projectingbrackets 16, 17, in which is pivotallyinounted, as by a bolt 18, thefeeding claw 19.

eventing it from injuring the The said feeding claw has a tail piecethat lies beneath across head 21 which connects the rear ends ofthebrackets 16, 17.

.An expansion coil spring 22 is set in a recess 23 formed in the crosshead 21 and bears downwardly on the tail piece 20 so as normally to urgethe nose 24 of the claw upwardly. V

, The stencils, several of which are shown stacked between the members4, 5, are of the usual form having frames 25 and paper portions 26,which paper portion spans the opening in the frame 25 of each stencilThe stencils are normally ur ed down, wardly in the members 4, 5, un erthe influence of gravity, which is commonly assisted by the applicationof a weight, not shown, to the top stencil. I

The member 4 has, at its lower end, a pair of downwardly projectingfingers 27, 27, ad justable, as by screw and slot, that serve to contactwith the forward end o'f'next to the lowermost stencil so as to preventmore than one stencil from being fed at a time. 7

The member 5 has a pair of stops 28, 28, at its lower portion, againstwhich the adjacent frame 01. the lowermost stencil'rests so as to tiltthe forward edge of the stencil. downwardly toward thetracks 3. The saidstops may be adjustable by means ofholt and slotconnections 29, 29.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the nose 2 1 of the claw19 is shouldered at each side, as indicated at 30, 31, so as to provideportions adaptedto rest against the underside of the frame 25 of thestencil while the intermediate portion of the nose 2-} enters the frameadjacent the inner forward edge thereof. This intermediate portion ofthe nose is cut away in a U-shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 soas to, ineflect, bi'lureate it and cause it to engage the inner forwardedge of thestencil frame at'the side portions thereof only. Theshoulders, 30, 31, are or such depth as to prevent the parts of the nose2 1 intermediate then) from contacting with the paper portion 26 of thestencil, thereby avoiding injuryto the latter. This space lefthetweenthe nose 24and the pa er portion. 26 is naturallytrifiing inextent, ut. it isof some importance for the reason indicated.

In order to predetermine the normal height of the nose 2 1 of the claw19 so that it'will firmly yet easily enter into the position justdescribed within the frame of the the paper portion 26, or

stencil, an adjusting screw 32 is threaded into the cross head 21 andabuts the rear of the claw 19. A set screw 33 serves to fasten theadjusting screw 32 in any determined adjustment.

The usual operation of feeding such stencils from a stack in anaddressing machine is for a reciprocating claw to successively engagethe inner forward edge of the stencil frame only and, in this way, topush the bottom stencils successively from the stack into the tracks. Itfrequently happens that the stencils are warped either longitudinally oflaterally thereof, or both. When this is the case, it often causes thepaper portion 26 to sag downwardly in a curve, from the correct positionshown in Fig. 1, and this results in the claw contacting with andtearing the said paper portion. Indeed, sometimes the curvature of thestencil is so great, as a result of warping or from other causes,thatthe claw will injure the paper portion of the second stencil as well asthe lowermost. Again, if the claw be adjusted to avoid this injury, itis apt to miss altogether feeding engagement with the frame of astraight or perfect stencil.

In the construction constituting my iiivention the provision of theshoulders 30, 31, which engage the underface of the stencil frame,prevents this injury of the paper ortion of the stencil by the clawbecause, inasmuch as the frame is warped correspondingly with the paperportion, the said frame will, by its engagement with the shoulders 30,31, prevent the nose 2st of the claw from rising high enough to strikethe aper.

It will also be noted that the shoulders 30 and 31 have substantiallycontinuous contact with the lower surface of the stencil framethroughout both the backward andv forward strokes of the reciprocatorymovement of the claw, while the bifurcations of the nose 2st engage theinner forward edge of the stencil frame during only the forward movementof the claw.

Likewise the cutting away or bifurcatiug of the said claw so that itsnose engages only at the sides of the inner forward edge of the stencilframe prevents injury to the paper 26 in case the stencil is warped in adirection lateral of the paper portion 26. In such case the downwardlycurved or sagging paper will lie between the bifurcations of the nose24.

My improved construction is a matter of substantial importance, becausethe bending or warping of stencils is a thing of very common occurrence,so that often the frame and paper portion do not lie in the intendedplane with respect to the plane of movement of the feeding claw.

Furthermore, the feeding mechanism constituting my invention is one thatcan be, as already indicated, combined with the other standard parts ofapproved addressing machines without any substantial alteration inconstruction. I

The size of the nose 24 of the claw may, of course, be altered to suitthe particular size of the stencils employed but, as the opening in thestencil frame is, to a large extent, of standard size, it will be clearthat the'mechanism in this respect will adapt itself to practically allnormal operating conditions without substantial change.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in theform, construction and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention; and hence, I do notintend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except asthey may be included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Stencil feeding mechanism comprising, an element fitted to engage aninside edge and the lower side surfaces of a stencil frame, and meansfor reciprocating said element.

2. Stencil feeding mechanism comprising, a reciprocatory element, saidelement having a portion fitted for substantially continuous contactwith the lower side surface of the stencil frame during reciprocation,and a portion fitted for engagement with an inside edge of the stencilframe during one stroke of reciprocation.

3. A stencil feeding element having its operative end bifurcated, saidbifurcations being cut away to form shoulders at their outer sides forcontacting with the lower surface of the stencil frame.

4f. Stencil feeding mechanism con'iprising, a reciprocatory elementhaving depressed side' portions and an elevated intermediate portion,whereby, during reciprocation, the depressed portions may, ride incontact with the lower side portions of the stencil frame andthe'elevated portion travel within the frame.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this 6th day of June, 1927.

ROBERT OLIVER.

